Xilica, experts in digital signal processing technology for AV and installed sound, has provided a centralised, IP-based DSP architecture at the new Estadio Unico Madre de Cuidades sports venue in Argentina. Designed and integrated by Equaphon Sistemas de Sonido, the system uses a Xilica Solaro FR1 DSP to streamline the costs and infrastructure typically required to process and distribute live event audio across a large outdoor stadium. The Xilica architecture includes XTouch control solutions to manage stadium voice, emergency and paging functions from three locations.
The 28,000-seat venue, located in the city of Santiago del Estero, officially opened this May and will welcome more fans into the stadium for future events, including the Copa America men’s football championship in June 2021. The Solaro FR1 routes stadium public address (live voice, music clips), paging and emergency notifications over a Dante network to 12 indoor and outdoor zones, including the grandstand, VIP boxes, ticket offices, parking areas, changing rooms and stadium entrances – processing high-quality Dante audio for 96 loudspeakers in the grandstand alone, supporting 76,800 W of PA power.
“Xilica audio and control integrates seamlessly with the stadium’s IT infrastructure, allowing us to centralise core processing and other DSP functionality while taking advantage of the stadium’s fiber-optic ring and Dante network for distribution,” said Ruben Branca, Managing Director, Equaphon Sistemas de Sonido. “Xilica’s clean interoperability with third-party AV and IT components also simplified system programming and routing paths during the design and integration phases, which allowed us to both simplify and optimise deployment, system operation and serviceability for the end user.”
The single high-capacity, scalable Solaro FR1 effectively centralises DSP functions while de-centralising the 21 Powersoft amplifiers that serve all 12 zones. This allowed the integration team to position amplifier racks at strategic points in the stadium, while minimising cabling and associated costs. Xilica Solaro XIO 8 modular expansion frames add value to stadium personnel through quick connection of external audio sources to the Dante network.
Xilica XTouch 80 touch screens enables simple and intuitive management of voice and audio within the Stadium Voice Booth and two monitoring posts tasked with security and emergency notifications. The XT80 enables security personnel to override general PA audio to deliver emergency messages and safety instructions, while announcers in the Stadium Booth voice can easily toggle between a handheld microphone, Dante and analog audio inputs. All XTouch systems interoperate with amplifiers to manage volume control and other audio settings.
